No matter what you do, there is impact felt everytime you make a step. High tops may protect your ankle from the force (since it keeps them relatively fixed, imagine the protection you get from a seatbelt) but it just transfers all the impact to other parts of the leg, i.e. your knee.

Low tops expose your ankle for more mobility, but since tHe ankle is closer to your foot than your jnee, it takes most of the impact.

I like high tops for ball but wear low tops on other sports to strengthen my ankle

ive been wearing kobe 6's for a year now and its the first low tops ive ever balled in

its like wearing cleats, i love how light they are and unrestrictive. Used to have a lot of ankle problems in the past, but I did a lot of strengthening and yoga to help and now everytime I roll my ankle its not even sore the next day, so no need to even rock the high tops anymore

How's a mid top protect your ankle? Put a pair on and turn your ankle then feel where the cuff is making contact around your ankle. All it's doing is pushing on the inside of your ankle. Also if you had on a shoe stiff enough to support your ankle then the roll would be transferred up to your knee.